Top 3 1911 Pistols Available Today!

We’ve noticed that many of our readers are looking for the newest and best 1911 pistols on the market. We’ve written extensively about pistols, especially 1911’s, but that was pre-Covid and the market has drastically changed. With the restrictions and lockdowns of Covid slowly being relaxed across the country, many gun manufacturers are able to release their stock and replenish the shelves on many stores. This blog is going to be dedicated to the top 5 1911 pistols that are currently for sale online. I’ve tried to include guns that are both affordable for everyone and the best available. Hope you enjoy!

1. Taurus 1911 9mm 8 Round Officer Pistol

The Taurus 1911 Officer Pistol is listed at number 1 because of the price and versatility of the gun. The Taurus Officer Pistol is somewhat of a newer gun and is chambered in 9mm with a 3.5" barrel and overall length of 7.2". it’s easily concealed for civilians to use as a CCW, but it’s just as easy to open carry as a primary pistol for LEO’s. It features an 8-round capacity and a single action trigger, which allows your first shot to be just as accurate as your follow-up shots. One thing many shooters like is the manual grip safety that reminds me a lot of an S&W Shield. To be honest, I’m not a fan of grip safety but I know that’s the standard feel of a 1911, with a grip safety and thumb safety. One of the premier features of this pistol is the Novak drift adjustable sights which are anywhere between $60.00-$150.00 if you buy them separately. The adjustable sights allow you to adjust the windage and elevation of your pistol to shoot at further ranges or if you’re in a windy environment, such as Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, and the Dakota’s.

Specs

Pros

• This is the most affordable 1911 on the market that I would consider buying
• It’s one of the lightest 1911’s on the market
• Custom adjustable sights from Novak
• Very easy to use as your CCW
• Front and rear serrations are really nice and aggressive

Cons

• I didn’t like the feel of the trigger, felt loose and unstable at times (Fixed mostly when manually tightened)
• Christensen Arms and Sig use more refined processing in their barrels, making them more reliable, especially over time

2. Sig Sauer 1911

Before anyone blows their lid and strokes out, I’ll never say a Taurus is better than any Sig Sauer. The reason I have it as number 2 is that the price is unattainable for most of us. In my opinion, there is no better-made pistol than a Stacatto P, but you’re not going to get one for less than $1,000.  I like this gun so much is that it’s chambered in .45 Auto and shoots like a 9mm pistol. Adding an aggressive grip to the pistol provides a sturdy grip that allows the pistol to handle much more like a 9mm with hollow points. The biggest difference is this Sig has a 5" barrel and an overall length of 8.7". This prevents this pistol from being used as a CCW, but it also prevents the muzzle flip that is infamous in most CCW’s. At 2.6 lbs, this is a heavy pistol, but it allows the pistol to handle the higher velocity and pressure of the .45 ACP.

full-size pistols often get the reputation of being difficult to control and shoot accurately because of their size, but it’s actually the opposite in well-made guns. The added size of larger pistols allows shooters to have more control and significantly less muzzle flip/rise. The Single Action Operation (SAO) trigger is one of the smoothest triggers I’ve shot with a .45 ACP. Normally, the larger caliber chambers require a stiffer trigger due to the added pressure required to fire the larger bullet.

Specs

Pros

• .45 ACP provides more than enough stopping power for a home invader
• Every Sig Sauer I’ve shot has been a high-performing, durable and reliable gun
• The SAO trigger system is smooth and light, separating the feel of the gun apart from many of its competitors
• The adjustable sights account for windage and elevation for shooting at longer distances than 25 yards
• It’s really impressive to see this gun up close with its incredible craftsmanship

Cons

• The price is too high for most Americans
• It’s a very long gun measuring just under 9"
• At just over 2.5lbs, the combination of weight and length would prevent me from ever wanting to carry this gun in public; would be an awesome home-defense gun though

3. Christensen Arms 1911 A5

Christensen Arms is known by most shooters for their incredible bolt-action rifles, but they’ve started to release pistols, including this beautiful full-size 9mm 1911. The 1911 A5 is named due to its 5" barrel to indicate the full-size model. For example, the Christensen 1911 A4 is a 4" barrel and can be used as a CCW. As far as this pistol goes, it’s made with the same high-quality metals that the rifles are made from, including the 7075 billet aluminum that is known for its durability and longevity. The pistol is finished in black anodized color to provide a scratch-resistant surface.

The things that stand out most about the Christensen Arms 1911 A5 are the adjustable match-grade trigger and the G10 grips. The match-grade trigger is really impressive and can be adjusted to as low as around 2 lbs of force. To put that in perspective, this pistol has the same smooth trigger as many bolt-action rifles, which is one of the big reasons for the high price tag. Not only is the A5 built with a single-action match-grade trigger, but it’s also built with a match-grade barrel. The billet aluminum frame is used to make 1911 lighter than the normal steel frame of most 1911’s. I’m not a huge fan of the sights, but you can always buy aftermarket sights if you don’t like the stock sights. The Christensen Arms A5 rounded sight is meant to provide a quick target acquisition at closer ranges, but I still prefer night sights with the brighter front sight.

Specs

Pros

• Great feel in anyone’s hand with the G10 grips
• Match-grade barrel provides 2" grouping at 25 yards
• Match-grade trigger provides better accuracy, especially the first shot
• Lightweight due to the billet aluminum frame
• 10 rounds is the upper end of most 1911’s
• I absolutely love the manual safety above your thumb and the grip safety
• Although I’m not a fan,

Cons

• No attachment for lights or lasers
• Not a fan of the sights due to my vision issues, I prefer aftermarket night sights in my pistols
• I simply can’t afford this 1911 without having to give up another gun